ALAN SILVIA: Don’t delay our region’s seat at the casino table

Friday

Mar 22, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 22, 2013 at 10:16 PM

Over the years, the residents of Fall River and the SouthCoast have strongly supported several ballot initiatives favoring the establishment of casino gaming within their city limits, and since the early 1980s we have been told that an Indian casino was the right choice and right around the corner.

Alan Silvia

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is state Rep. Alan Silvia’s prepared testimony delivered at a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in Fall River on Thursday.

Over the years, the residents of Fall River and the SouthCoast have strongly supported several ballot initiatives favoring the establishment of casino gaming within their city limits, and since the early 1980s we have been told that an Indian casino was the right choice and right around the corner.

Therefore, it is incredibly disheartening and so incredibly unfair that while other regions of the commonwealth finally get to benefit from casino gaming, the one region pursuing it for 30 years has been pushed to the side and relegated to second-class status.

The people I represent in the city of Fall River or Region C, should not be disenfranchised and provided less opportunity than anyone else or any other region. When statewide legislation passes whereby citizens of the commonwealth are treated differently simply because of where they reside, it doesn’t require a lot of basic reasoning skills to know it is bad policy.

The problem for everyone in our region, Region C, is that by the time the courts finally arrive at what is an obvious conclusion based on precedent, many years will pass, gaming facilities in other areas of the commonwealth will be well established and entrenched generating millions in tax revenue and creating thousands of jobs, Region C will still be told, “It’s just around the corner.”

As a new member of the Legislature, the people who elected me are good, hardworking people. The problem they have is no work. We need jobs. My district has the highest unemployment rate in the commonwealth. I know casino gaming is not going to be the answer to all our problems, but if you have a family, and you’re on the unemployment line, with a limited skill set, where English may not be your primary language, a job, any job, anywhere is God sent.

Some of my colleagues are “skeptical” about casino gaming. The people struggling and out of work don’t give a damn about political skepticism, nor do I. They want to work and it is our job, to create the economic conditions where they can find work. A commercial gaming license for Region C starts the process of creating the economic environment which creates jobs now.

At a time in the commonwealth where we are looking at cutting basic services to the truly needy and the governor is asking to raise taxes by $2 billion, why would anyone (in his or her right mind) suggest that taxing one group less than the 25 percent that which every other commercial gaming entity has to pay the commonwealth is OK? It is NOT; it is wrong and basic common sense tells us so. Why should the taxpayers of Region C, and frankly the entire commonwealth, financially subsidize and reward a multi-billion dollar Malaysian gaming company?

Moreover, the argument that you can’t have two casinos; a commercial and someday a tribal in the same region is complete nonsense. The gaming customer will patronize the facility with the best value, entertainment and experience. Since when have the citizens of the Commonwealth become afraid of a little competition; maybe the folks north of Boston can’t handle it, but here, we love competition, we’re not afraid, bring it on.

Mr. Chairman and members of the commission, I respectfully ask you to please open Region C to a commercial gaming license process now and provide the people I represent, and the entire SouthCoast area, that which has been provided to the rest of the commonwealth: an equal process to pursue a commercial gaming license and provide jobs for our people.

Alan Silva is the state representative for the 7th Bristol District, Fall River.

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